Missing Rice student’s car found

Published 7:00 pm, Sunday, June 15, 2008

The discovery of the car belonging to missing Rice University student Matthew Wilson is a double-edged sword, the Rice Chief of Police Bill Taylor said Monday.

Wilson’s car was found last week in Berkeley, Calif., according to police there.

"The discovery of Matthew's car is an important piece of evidence," said Rice Police Chief Bill Taylor. "We will cooperate fully with the Berkeley Police Department investigation, and we’re all hopeful that Matthew will be found alive and well."

Wilson’s disappearance attracted national media attention, after the 21-year-old computer science major disappeared Dec. 14. Rewards for information about the case total $25,000.

“This is a two-edged sword because we now have some indication where Matthew may have gone. But on the other hand, it leaves us with another side to look at. It’s obvious that Matthew hasn’t been back to his car in quite a long time,” Taylor said.

The search for Wilson now focuses on the area where the car was found, Taylor said.

“It’s good news, because we’ve said all along that finding that car would give us some information,” he added. “And the car, like his apartment, had some stuff left there,” Taylor said.

Taylor stressed that Berkeley police had told him “there were no signs of foul play” in the former Rice students’ 2004 silver Dodge Neon.

“That’s the good news,” Taylor said. “There have been no indications of foul play.”

As the search for Wilson moves to the Berkeley area, Taylor said, “there’s probably only one person in the world who knows what’s going on here — and that’s Matthew.”

Wilson's silver 2004 four-door Dodge Neon with Oklahoma license plate 863 MCZ was towed as an abandoned vehicle from a residential street in West Berkeley on June 10.

Taylor said the Berkeley police have issued a description and photos of Wilson with a request for the community's help in searching for the missing student from Haworth, Okla.

Rice police notified Wilson's family of the news.

Wilson, a junior, was last seen by his roommate in their off-campus apartment Dec. 14. Although he had preregistered from spring semester classes at Rice, Wilson didn’t attend those classes.

Rice University is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the discovery of Wilson. His family is also offering $10,000 for information leading to his return. Crime Stoppers of Houston is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to felony charges in the case.

Wilson is white, 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing 135 pounds with has red hair and green eyes. He had a full beard when last seen.

To contact the Rice University Police Department, call 713-348-6000.

To contact Crime Stoppers, call 713-222-TIPS (8477). The Berkeley Police Department can be reached at 510-981-5900.